Final: Kellenberg 1, St. John the Baptist 0
WP: Jason Diaz (4-Hit Shutout, 10 K)Kellenberg wins CHSAA Championship for consecutive year pic.twitter.com/SVUCaB11Be
aXcess Baseball (@axcessbaseball) May 29, 2017
It was the year of the strikeout for the Kellenberg Firebirds. Their rotation of Chris Cappas, Jason Diaz and Andrew Williams combined for a sub 1.00 ERA. Fittingly, it ended with a strikeout and a dog pile on the mound.
Today it was the youngest of the trio–sophomore and University of Miami-commit Jason Diaz that stepped up and fired a four-hit shutout in a 1-0 victory over St. John the Baptist to deliver the Firebirds to a consecutive CHSAA Championship. He struck out 10 and walked two, looking mature beyond his years.
The only offense needed was senior and CHSAA Player of the Year, Chris Cappas, who lined a single to score Andrew Russell in the first inning.
“I was looking for something off the plate,” said Cappas. “I just stuck my bat out there and found a hole,” he added.
At the time, it appeared like the Firebirds had the opposing starter, Nick Jack, on the ropes. St. John the Baptist had the bullpen going with the bases loaded and out out, but Diaz hit a line drive that was caught by shortstop Matt Archer and converted into a double play when he caught the runner on second before he could get back to the bag.
The Firebirds also had the bases loaded in the third inning for Diaz, but Jack was able to get him to pop out to the catcher to retire the side with no runs crossing the plate.
Diaz was able to keep his pitch-count low, especially during the fifth when he needed only five pitches to fire a 1-2-3 inning. He also benefited from some solid defensive plays, notably in the third inning on a good play by third baseman Tom Paulich who ranged far to his left to throw out Logan O’Hoppe which stranded runners on second and third. The defensive play of the game was by Mike Repoli, who made a tremendous diving play against the fence in left-center field to start the fifth inning.
Diaz allowed two singles in the seventh inning to provide some hope for the Cougars, but Diaz fanned the final two batters to lift the Firebirds to the promised land.
Diaz finished the year with a 5-1 record, a minuscule ERA of 0.55 and 53 strikeouts over 38 innings.
Cappas said that Diaz “had an amazing season, and he pitched like he’s already in college. He’s going to have a fun next two years–he’s going to dominate.”
Despite the fact that the Firebirds will be graduating many of their impact players this year, Cappas noted that the team expects to win it again next year, “I don’t think anything will change.”
